Hoisting and conveying apparatus.



A, E. NORRIS. HOISTING- AND CONVEYING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION IILED DEO.19.1901.

PATBNTED FEB. 27, 1906.

4 SHETSSHEET 1.

-PATENTED FEB. 2'7, 1906.

A. E. NORRIS. HOISTING AND GONVEYING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED DEO.19, 1901.

4 SHEETSSHEET 2.

PATENTED FEB. 27, 1906.

A. E. NORRIS. HOISTING AND CONVEYING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED DEC.19, 1901.

4 SHEETSSHEBT 3.

No. 813,663. PATENTED FEB. 27, 1906.

' A. E. NORRIS.

HOISTING AND CONVEYING APPARATUS. APPLICATION FILED 1330.19.1901.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

T R E H g a UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HOISTING AND CONVEYING APPARATUS. I

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 27, 1906.

Application filed December 19, 1901. Serial No. 86,497.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ALMoN E. NORRIS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Cambridge, in the county of Middlesex and State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Hoisting and Conveying Apparatus, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like letters on the drawings representing like parts.

This invention in hoisting and conveying apparatus relates more particularly to that class of apparatus commonly known as eableways, wherein the load is suspended from a trolley arranged to run upon a suitable track, usually a cable, and operated along said track by a suitable traverse-rope, the load being lifted and dropped by another or hoisting rope.

The object of my invention is to improve such apparatus, wherein the traverse and hoisting ropes or cables are, in effect, endless that is, extend from the carriage or trolley to the reinote end of the track, thence back to the near end thereof, to and about the operating appliances or drums, thence back again to the trolley or carriage from which they started.

My invention will best be understood from a description of one embodiment thereofsuch, for instance, as shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 in diagram illustrates an apparatus made in accordance with one embodiment of my invention, the figure being broken outat each side of the carriage or trolley to shorten the drawing. Fig. 2 is an enlarged side elevation of the trolley or carriage, Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a top or plan view of'Fig. 2; Fig. 4, a left-hand end view of Fig. 2; and Figs. 5 and 6, diagrams illustrating the lead of the traverse and hoisting ropes or cables. Fig. 7 is an outline view, on a larger scale, of the connections between the skip or hoist and the trolley.

Referring to the drawings, first to Fig. 1 thereof, A A represent usual towers or supports between which extends the track, usually in the form of a cable a, the ends of which are extended beyond the said towers or supports and anchored in suitable manner, as at a. Upon this track (1 runs a trolley B, Figs. 2 to 4, inclusive, of suitable design and construction, to enable it to be operated in accordance with my invention. As herein shown, said trolley is composed of a box-like skeleton frame made up of horizontal members b b and vertical members 6 b with crossconnecting members 6 Fig. 3.

In or beneath the upper horizontal frame members 6 b are journaled in suitable manner the trolley or carriage wheels 0, shown as three in number and grooved at their peripheries to fit and travel freely upon the said track-cable a. The middle trolley-wheel c is shown as arranged somewhat below the two end wheels of the series to meet the curve or depression in the cable a, and thus bear its proportionate part of the load.

To the ends and near the top of the car riage B are attached in suitable manner the opposite ends of the traverse cable or rope d, the same (see Fig. 1) extending from the said trolley to the left to the remote end of the track-cable a at the tower A, where it passes about a suitable sheave at d, thence to the right over to the opposite or near end of the said track-cable a-at the tower A, where it passes over a sheave at (1 thence to and about one of the winches d of a suitable hoisting machine or engine, thence back over another sheave at d, and along again to the trolley B, to which it is attached. Thus the said traverse-cable d is, in efiect, endless, its two ends being joined by the trolley or carriage B and obviously rotation of the winch d by moving the said cable in one or the opposite direction will correspondingly cause said trolley B to traverse its track-cable a in one or the opposite direction, as desired.

In apparatus of this type difliculty has been experienced by reason of the slack usually present in long endless cables, and my invention eliminates this difficulty by providing suitable (herein automatic) slack-adjusting means for taking up the slack in such endless cables. For example, referring particularly to the diagram Fig. 5, the traverse-cable on its return from the remote end of the track after passing for the first time over a sheave at (1 instead of passing thence directly to the winch d is carried downward to and about a sheave d", carrying a slackadjusting weight (Z thence upward and again over the sheave d thence downward to the drum d and back again over an additional sheave at d Thus there is provided in one of the strands (herein the main returnstrand of the transverse cable d) a slack-adjusting loop under the constant automatic action of the adjusting-weight (1 which takes up whatever slack may from time to time be present in the said traverse-cable.

Referring again to Figs. 2 and 6, in or upon the bottom frame members 1/ is journaled the winch a, about which is carried the hoisting-cablef, (shown as endless,) the same after passing preferably several times around the said winch a being carried to the remote end of the track-cable a at the tower A and about a loose sheave at as thereat, thence back to the opposite end of the track a at the tower A, where it passes over a loose sheave at 00 thence downward to and about a second or hoisting winch f, forming a part of the hoisting or operating engine or motor referred to, thence upward again toand over an additional loose sheave at 00 downward to and about a sheave f carrying a slack-adjusting weight f thence upward and over an additional sheave at 00 thence to its startingpoint at the winch e on the said trolley. This hoisting-cable f as here shown is endless in the true sense as distinguished from the traverse cable d, wherein the continuity of the cable is made up in part by the trolley B, connecting its ends. Obviously rotation of the hoisting-winch f in one or the other direction will cause movement of.the said hoisting-cablef in one or the other direction, and thereby cause rotation of the winch e upon the trolley B in a direction for raising and lowering the load, as will now be described.

At the side of the winch e on the trolley B and rigidly attached to the winch is a hoisting-drum h, which, of course, is rotated by and with the winch 6 upon operation of the hoisting-cable f. To this hoistingdrum h is secured in suitable manner one end of a hoisting-rope h, which is extended downward to and about a load-carrying sheave h, carrying a hoisting-hook h, thence upward to the trolley B and about a loosely-mounted sheave h uponthe lower members I) of the trolley B, thence downward again to and about a second sheave at W, thence upward again to the trolley and about a second loose sheave 7L4 thereon, thence downward to the carrier for the load-carrying sheave W, or instead thereof the last-mentioned end of the said hoisting-rope it may be attached to any other non-rotatable part. Thus rotation of the hoisting-drum h by the hoisting-cable when in one direction will wind the hoistingrope h about and upon it, and thereby lift a weight, such as a skip hr, and when rotated in an oppositedirection the said drum will unwind said hoisting-rope and lower said skip or load.

To take up slack in the endless hoistingcable f, I have provided suitable slack-adjusting devices similar to those provided for the traverse-cable (1. Referring to Fig. 6, the strand of the hoisting-cable f that extends between the sheave m and the winch e on the trolley is shown as looped downward and about a sheavef carrying'a slack-adjusting weight f which acts in a manner similar to the slack-adjusting weight d to take up the slack in its cable The operation of the apparatus thus far described is as follows, viz: Starting with the trolley B in the proper position, the hoistingwinch f is permitted to rotate to drop the skip or load h to the proper point, the hoisting-cablef then traveling in the direction of the arrow 25, Fig. 6. When properly loaded and ready for hoisting and while the traversewinch d is held frictionally against rotation, the hoisting-winch f is rotated in the direction of the arrow 26 to cause the winch e and hoisting-drum it upon the stationary trolley B to rotate in the direction of the arrow 26, thus to hoist the load, as described, the hoisting-cable then traveling in the direction of the arrows 26'. The load having been thus hoisted, it is desired to convey the same to one side for instance, to the left, Figs. 1, 5, and 6. This is accomplished by releasing the traverse-winch d and continuing rotation of the hoisting-winchf in the direction of the arrow 26, which will thus cause the load to travel while suspended to the left to the desired point, sufficient friction or retarding effect being maintained upon the traversewinch d to prevent the latter from rotating more rapidly than is necessary to enable its trolley B to follow the movement of the hoisting-cable. If the which (i were completely released when it was desired to draw the suspended load to the left, the trolley B, being then perfectly free, would race to the left under the action of the suspended weight more rapidly than the movement of the hoisting-cable, tending to draw the load to the left. This would result in giving to the trolley-winch e and hoisting-drums a rela tive rotation in reverse direction calculated to drop the load, which, of course, must be avoided. When the load has been conveyed to the proper point, the traverse-winch d is braked against further rotation, thus stopping the traverse movement of the trolley, and the hoisting-winch f is released, ermitting the load to be deposited. The oad having been deposited and the hook or skip, if desired, raised again to desired elevation, the traverse-winch d is positively rotated in the direction of the arrow 27, Fig. 5, to cause said winch through the traverse-cable (Z moving also in the direction of the arrow 27, to drawthe trolley back again to the right to its first position, where it is again locked and the hoisting-winch released to drop its hook or skip for a new load. During the rotation of the traverse-winch the hoisting-winch f is released; otherwise the trolley-winch would be rotated in the direction of the arrow 26 and the hook or skip being elev. ted still higher would become jammed against the trolley. For convenience in operating the winches d and f of the engine or motor they may be clutched one to another or otherwise operated as usual to cause one to pay out as the other draws in, and vice versa.

Referring now to Figs. 5 and 6, it will be noticed that the slack adjusting means for the traverse-cable d is arranged in a loop of the long return strand of said cable, because this is the slack-strand of the cable, the other strandviz., that extending between the trolley B and the traverse-winch d being held always taut, either by the winding eflect of the winch when returning the trolley or by the retarding eflect upon the winch as it pays out the cable (1 during conveyance of the load from loading to unloading points. On the other hand, referring to Fig. 6, the slack-adjusting device for the hoisting-cable is ar ranged in the short section or strand of the cable f, that leads from the trolley to the hoisting-winchf, because the long strand of said cable isthe one through which the pull is exerted in initially hoisting the load and thereafter drawing the latter to the left to the discharge-point.

Referring to Figs. 2 to 4, inclusive, I have provided the trolley B near its top with a plurality of (herein two) loose sheaves m, and the long return strands (lower strands in Fig. 2) of the endless operating-cables d and f are shown as carried under these sheaves m, so as to cause the said cables (1 and f to bear a part of the load upon the trolley, which would otherwise be received wholly by the trackcable a. The long return strands of the cables d andf, passing under the sheaves m of the trolley, exert the same lifting effect upon the trolley as do the operating-strands of said cables, one of which is attached di rectly to the carriage and the other of which is carried around the winch e on the carriage. Thus the two strands of each endless operating-cable are caused to act at opposite sides upon and to lift the trolley, so that one neu tralizes or offsets the other, and there is no tendency whatever to twist or rock the trolley.

Referring now to Fig. 3, it will be noticed that the point of attachment of the tight strand of the traverse-cable d is located opposite and in alinement with the tight strand of the hoisting-rope leading from the trolley to the left. It will also be noticed that the point of attachment of the tight strand of the traverse-rope is substantially the same distance from the longitudinal center of the trolley as the inner sheave m, under which is passed the long or tight strand of the hoisting-cable am. that the poirt of attachmert of the slack strand of the traverse-rope is substantially the same distance from the longitudinal center of the trolley as the outer sheave m, under which is passed the lorg or slack strand of the traverse rope d. To

make this clearer, I have in Fig. 3 shown the cables as returned in dotted lines under the sheaves m m to enable the arrangement described to be more clearly understood. Of course the locations or points of attachment of the tight strand of the traverse-rope and of the hoisting-rope upon its winch e are necessarily first determined, and the sheaves m m thereafter correspondingly located at the opposite side of the longitudinal center of the trolley to provide a perfect balancing action of the several strands of the cables upon the trolley.

Referring particularly to Fig. 4, I have arranged beneath the sheaves mmother sheaves m, that overlap the sheaves m above them and prevent the strands of the cables that travel in the sheaves m m slipping out from the grooves therein, as might be the case under certain circumstances when the trolley is close to one of the supporting-towers or by reason of the excessive surging of the cables. At the ends of the trolley B, Ihave provided a series of upright freely moving rollers n, which serve as lateral guides for the cables that pass to or through the trolley to prevent lateral vibration or displacement thereof.

Referring to Fig. 4, I have provided stirrups 0, through which the track-cable a is carried, to prevent the trolleywheels c lifting from the track-cable a.

My invention is not limited to the particular embodiment thereof here disclosed, but obviously may be varied within the spirit and scope of the invention.

Having described my invention and without limiting myself to details, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In an apparatus of the class described, a track-cable a trolley thereon, an endless opcrating-cable connected with said trolley, the outgoing and return strands of said endless operating-cable bearing upon said trolley at opposite sides of the longitudinal center thereof, whereby said strands cooperate with said track-cable in supporting a load carried by said trolley and without tendency to swing the said trolley about said track-cable.

2. In an apparatus of the class described a track-cable, a trolley thereon, endless traverse and hoisting cables connected with said trolley, the tight strands of said traverse and hoisting cables engagin the said trolley at substantially the same distance from and at opposite sides of the longitudinal center of the said trolley and track-cable and the slack strands of said cables likewise engaging said trolley at substantially equal distance from and at opposite sides of said longitudinal center of said trolley and said track-cable, whereby to maintain said trolley always in substantial equilibrium.

3. In an apparatus of the class described, a

track-cable, a trolley and its wheels traveling upon said track-cable, and endless hoisting and traverse cables engaging said trolley at opposite sides of the line of said track-cable in a manner substantially as described, to preserve the equilibrium of said trolley.

4. In a cableway apparatus a trolley, operating means at one end of said cableway, separate endless traverse and hoisting ropes each in engagement with said operating means and having each a short strand leading therefrom to said trolley and a long strand leading therefrom to the opposite side of said cableway and thence to said trolley, and slack-adjusting means in the short strand of said hoisting-rope and in the long strand of said traverse-rope.

5. In an apparatus of the class described a trolley and an endless hoist-operating cable therefor in trolley-supporting engagement with said trolley with both its outgoing and return strands.

6. In an apparatus of the class described a trolley and an endless operating-cable therefor in trolley-supp rting engagement with the trolley at substantially equal distances on either side of the longitudinal center thereof.

7. In an apparatus of the class described a trolley, an endless operating-cable therefor engaging said trolley with both its outgoing and return strands, and means for balancing the effect of said cable upon said trolley to preserve the equilibrium thereof.

8. In an apparatus of the class described a trolley, an endless hoist-operating cable connected through one of its strands with said trolley to control movement of one or more of the trolley parts, and means for causing the other strand of said operating-cable to assist in supporting the trolley-weight.

9. In an apparatus of the class described a trolley, a plurality of endless operating-cables having each their tight and slack strands engaging with said trolley and means for balancing the effect upon said trolley of the tight strand of one cable by the effect of the tight strand of another cable to preserve the equilibrium thereof.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ALMON E. NORRIS.

Witnesses FREDERICK L. EMERY. A. E. CHEsLEY. 

